Head of Finance and Sustainability

Cambridgeshire, Peterborough And South Lincolnshire (CPSL) Mind Ltd; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

CPSL Mind Ltd in Peterborough (hybrid with Cambridge option) invites applications for Head of Finance and Sustainability. The role leads the finance function, ensuring robust governance, financial control, reporting and sustainability while supporting strategic decision making across the charity.

You will oversee income generation, including fundraising, training and events, and develop contract costing models, drive value for money and financial stewardship, and report to the Senior Leadership

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with proven governance and financial leadership experience.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting and multi-year planning.
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, reporting and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert financial advice to the Executive Leadership Team.
• Lead annual budgeting, financial planning and statutory reporting.
• Oversee day-to-day finance operations and internal controls.
• Develop robust contract costing and pricing models for income generation.
• Oversee fundraising, training and events to diversify income.
• Drive cost awareness and value for money across the charity.
• Report to the Board and committees on financial matters.
• Lead and develop the finance and income teams.

Skills

Excel skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA)

Tools

Sage

Xero

Job description

Full Time Head of Finance and Sustainability

Based in Peterborough or Cambridge with hybrid working option

Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

Salary Salary Scale point 33 £42,525.00 per annum (April 2025)

Main Objective

As a key part of CPSL Mind's Senior Leadership Team, this role will provide strategic and operational leadership for the organization financial management, ensuring robust governance, financial sustainability and informed decision making across the charity.

You will lead the finance function, ensuring the highest standards of financial control, compliance, reporting and operational efficiency, while driving a culture of financial accountability throughout the organization.

Alongside this, you will oversee our income generation portfolio, including fundraising, training and events, ensuring these functions contribute to a diversified and sustainable income base. You will also lead our broader approach to financial sustainability, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen commercial decision making, maximise value for money and ensure every pound delivers the greatest possible impact for the communities we serve.

This post will:

• Provide expert financial advice and insight to the Executive Leadership Team
• Support strategic decision making through robust financial analysis, forecasting and business planning
• Lead annual budgeting, financial planning, statutory accounts and audit and multi year forecasting and reporting
• Oversee day to day finance functions, ensuring strong financial governance, internal controls and regulatory compliance
• Lead the development of robust contract costing and pricing models, working closely with internal colleagues to support the development of a diverse and sustainable income portfolio
• Provide strategic oversight and leadership of fundraising, training and events
• Drive a culture of cost awareness, value for money and responsible financial stewardship
• Build strong relationships with internal colleagues, commissioners, funders, auditors and external partners

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Finance Strategic Management

• Provide expert financial advice and insight to the Executive Leadership Team
• Support strategic decision making through robust financial analysis, forecasting and business planning
• Lead annual budgeting, financial planning and multi year forecasting
• Oversee day to day finance functions, ensuring accurate and timely financial processing
• Produce high quality monthly management accounts and financial performance reports

Sustainability

• Strategic oversight of the Training and Consultancy and Fundraising teams both internally and externally
• Lead initiatives to reduce operating costs
• Lead the development of robust contract costing and pricing models
• Ensure all bids and tenders are fully costed and financially sustainable
• Support managers to understand full cost recovery and the financial implications of operational decisions
• Support the development of a diverse and sustainable income portfolio
• Drive a culture of cost awareness, value for money and responsible financial stewardship
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and commercial awareness

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure strong financial governance, internal controls and regulatory compliance
• Oversee statutory accounts, annual audit and all financial requirements
• Ownership of Finance and Resources-related risks and policies, including Pensions and Investments
• Ensure compliance with Charity Commission, Companies House, HMRC and all financial regulations
• Maintain effective financial policies, procedures and delegated authorities
• Report to Board of Trustees and Committee meetings as appropriate.

People

• Lead, develop and inspire the finance and income generation teams
• Build strong relationships with internal colleagues, commissioners, funders, auditors and external partners
• Work collaboratively with Senior Management Team colleagues to embed sustainability in existing service delivery

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Education

• Qualified accountant (for example ACA, CIMA, ACCA)

Experience

• Managing budgets and detailed reporting on financial performance/forecasting
• Familiarity with year-end routines including Audit and preparation of the published Annual Report & Accounts
• Working with, and presenting to, Trustees/Directors and Senior Leaders
• Working with and managing a computerised Accounting system (e.g. Sage, Xero)
• Financial management within the third sector
• Leading on budgeting/modelling for tender submissions or funding bids
• Experience of managing income generating projects

Competencies

• Strong management accountancy skills
• Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders
• Continuous improvement approach
• Strong organisational skills, including planning and problem-solving.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to present and detailed financial information in a clear format to managers, senior leaders and Trustees
• Strong Excel skills and, preferably, familiarity with a range of financial systems
• Understanding / experience of completing finance reports for a variety of grant funders
• Understanding of Charity Governance relating to financial management.
• Line management experience, including coaching & mentoring staff